Do I Recommend "Twilight?"

Is “Twilight” part of the occult? Should our kids be watching it? Do we need to protest the movie and the books? Where do I stand on “Twilight” is the common question that moms and leaders are asking.

After posting “Twilight” on the blog I began to do some soul searching. How do I feel about “Twilight?” What’s the big deal about it? On a scale from one to ten I give the movie a five. But that’s not what you want to know. You want to know, how I see it spiritually. Is it wrong?

First of all let’s keep this in perspective. This is a fictional movie. Vampires are not real. Melanie Cogdill, a Christian writer for Brio states, “God created us as relational beings, and girls in particular are created to be relational (Genesis 2-3). We tend to focus on relationships, but sometimes we make an idol out of them or fantasize over our desire for a relationship with that “perfect” guy. No guy can ever live up to the way Stephenie portrays Edward. He’s the fantasy creation of a woman writer.”

Now keep in mind I’ve only seen the first movie; I’ve not read the books. And yes, Edward is a fantasy creation of a woman writer. Girls dream about him and long for him because it was put into their hearts. They are to marry a man that will provide for them, protect them, and give them great pleasure (sex) after they are married (Exodus 21: 10). Edward portrays this perfectly. Ms. Cogdill says, “No guy can live up to this.” I ask, “Why?” Jesus Christ is perfect. He said, “If you love me keep my commandments." (habits, walk like me).

Edwards don’t exist because we don’t expect them to? Perhaps it’s time to raise our standards. Expect a young man to control his fleshly desires, keep a young woman pure until marriage. Treat girls with great respect. We need to reinforce true identity to our daughters. They should be treated like royalty; they are daughters of the King.

I find it interesting that the author of "Twilight" and mother of three boys, captivated the souls of so many women with an age old theme: love.

In the first movie Edward isn’t buying Bella expensive gifts taking her on exotic vacations or building her an empire. He is just crazy nuts in love with her. How I long to convey this message of Christ’s love through the way I live and act towards others.

Now to love anything or anyone more than God is wrong. We all need to ask ourselves, are there any idols in our lives. We can idolize Christian preachers, boyfriends, jobs, you name it we can idolize it. It’s wrong in any sense. Just recently a teenage girl asked me, “Why would God take this guy out of my life when our relationship was so good, so healthy, so Christian?” I replied, “Because he’s become your idol.” Girls don’t need to see “Twilight” to become idol worshippers. It’s all over our culture. So if you see idolatry in “Twilight” use it as a picture to explain what idolatry might look like.

In the movie Bella comes from a dysfunctional family. Her mother is all about herself and her love life. Her father devotes his energies to his work but longs for a relationship with a daughter he doesn’t even know. Her family is awkward to say the least. Bella’s family is not uncommon in our culture. Have you ever walked down the halls of your local high school? Half of the kids relate to Bella. It’s one of the reasons they are so drawn to this movie. They are either Bella or Bella is their best friend, they understand her character.

Bella is in love with Edward’s family, the Cullen's. It’s everything she’s ever dreamed of: unity, community, commitment, camaraderie, and love. The Cullen's bring her in like a baby left on the doorstep. Shouldn’t this be our example as Christians? Why are we so afraid to enter into the tax payer’s house (the movie theater) and see the good of this movie? We are missing the point; our kids are starving for love. They want the complete meal deal; boy, family, security, and love. Isn’t this what God meant for the family? Not the condemning…thou shall not do… We need to be more like the Cullen's (just not vampire like), accepting, encouraging, and loving kids where they are.

We are not to conform to the ways of the world (Rom. 12:2). Jesus didn’t conform when he hung out with the prostitutes, sinners, and tax collectors. He simple met them where they were, revealed their need and then filled their need.

If they were hungry; He was the “Bread of Life”
If they were thirsty; He was “the Living Water”
If they were in the darkness; He was “the Light”

How do I feel about this movie? Satan may intend to use it for evil by using Vampires and the gloomy atmosphere of the Northwest. But let’s slap Him in the face and use it for good. Jesus Christ is everything that girls are looking for. As we see girls reading the book or standing in the popcorn line let’s use it as a way to connect.

This movie opened up the lines of communications for my daughters and me. It gave us the opportunity to talk about love, redemption, patience, self-control, gentleness, and kindness. I focused on the good (Phil. 4:8).

I don’t feel that I am qualified to recommend or condemn this movie because I’ve not read the books. However, my point is this; we can be so quick to judge that we miss out on ministry opportunities. “Twilight” has something stirring the hearts of women, young and old. I believe its deep intimacy. Can we use this movie to help women understand their need for Christ (Edward) and the Holy Spirit (his supernatural powers)?

If you are interested in “Twilight” you might want to check out Christian Spotlight http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2008/twilight2008.html and Focus on the Family http://www.pluggedinonline.com/read/read/a0004206.cfm

In His Love,
June

"Twilight"

"Twilight," over two million copies have been sold and now it's the number one hit at the box office. Why?

Over Christmas break I reluctantly decide to accompany my two daughters, Jerrilyn and Jordan, to this box office hit "Twilight."

"Why are so many girls infatuated with a young beautiful girl falling in love with a vampire?" I asked myself. I was curious about the movie, but was determined not to get sucked into the plot.
After waiting in line (that is for the popcorn) I nestled myself into the comfortable rocking chair next to Jerrilyn. She'd seen it once with her husband (he gets a gold star for enduring a chick flick) and couldn't wait for me to see it.

Bella, a young beautiful girl, just moved into an unfamiliar, cold, rainy, town in Oregon with her father. Kids are drawn to the new girl in school, especially a young man named Edward.

"She can't be attracted to Edward, he's not even good looking" I sighed as Edward appeared as large as life on the movie screen.

"Shh....Mom."

As the plot began to thicken, and my popcorn emptied, I found myself sitting up in my chair being drawn to this teenage vampire, Edward.

Why was I all of the sudden finding him attractive? Could it be that he saved her life, that he protected her; or that he was faster than lightning and tittered on the edge of good and evil? Maybe I fell for him because he listened to her and wanted to know her theories. No, perhaps it was because he denied his fleshly impulses of having sex with her because he knew it would change her live forever. All of these characteristics attracted me to Edward but there was one thing that rocked my world. Not only was he willing to die for her; he was willing to live for her. His life would be spent protecting, providing, and being intimate with Bella.

Romeo and Juliet had the dying part down but now Edward comes out of no where and teaches us how to live for somebody else. "Brilliant!" I said to myself.

I ask you: What are you living for? Who are you living for? Why are you living for it or them?


Keep me posted,

June